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Introducing a salute to ‘backbone of our industry’

On the following pages, Shelby Publishing is proud to present its second annual Exceptional Independents Awards.

Nominations were open to independent retailers, wholesalers, technology and other service providers.

“Independents are the backbone of our industry, and this awards program is an opportunity to recognize them for their contributions,” said Stephanie Reid, Shelby president and COO. “Independents are a vital part of their communities and lead the way in caring for their customers. Our Exceptional Independents Awards shine a light on these businesses that continue to help feed our communities.”

Coverage of the award winners will appear by region in the March 2024 editions of The Shelby Report of the Midwest, The Shelby Report of the Southeast, The Shelby Report of the Southwest, The Shelby Report of the West and The Griffin Report of the Northeast. Awards winners also will be featured on theshelbyreport.com.

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Balls Foods Kansas City, Kansas-based Balls recognizes that a grocery store is only as good as the people who work there. The company understands that having teammates who are trained, educated and cared for will outweigh any trend that pops up in the grocery industry.

The vision is to be the best run, friendliest supermarket in town, where teammates are passionate about providing excellent customer service and where customers view grocery shopping as a pleasure, not a chore.

The Ball’s team places high value on taking care of employees through competitive compensation, quality benefits and additional educational opportunities.

In addition to investing in employees, the team also is committed to creating a cleaner environment. The team recently focused on four locations for an innovative project that included the use of high-efficiency

refrigeration and LED lighting, which is 40 percent more energy efficient than traditional lighting.

Balls also is continuing its conscientious recycling program and zero waste policy for excess food to aid

in its mission to support health, wellness, family and community.

In addition to building and updating its locations, Ball’s Foods also contributed to the KVC Health Systems with the addition of the Ball’s Event Center, which is available to rent for several types of events.

All proceeds from the center bookings benefit KVC’s mission and commitment to enriching and enhancing the lives of children and families by providing medical and behavioral healthcare, social services and education.

  B&R Markets No one works harder for his company and customers than Mike Sallinger. He goes above and beyond to make sure all of his stores are fully stocked on items that his customers need. He will even start early on weekend mornings, going to store to store transferring product, etc. to make it happen for B&R Markets in Lincoln, Nebraska.

If he doesn’t have it, he will work countless hours until he finds it to make everyone happy. It’s such a pleasure to work with someone who cares about growing business together like Mike Sallinger.

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Brodhead Piggly Wiggly In 2017, Brodhead Piggly Wiggly came under new ownership, with Justin and Alicia Campbell assuming the reins from its longtime owner, who retired last year.

The decision had been in the works for the past few years.

“It takes years of experience. There was a trial period to see, is this going to work or not? Because it’s not something that you can just delve into. It takes time to see if you can do it or not,” Justin Campbell said.

He has been working at the store in Brodhead, Wisconsin, intermittently for the last 13 years. He first started working in the meat department and decided to keep working and learning about the business.

Alicia Campbell also worked at the store and had other employment. Her husband said the former owners are great resources and continue to be involved in the day-to-day operation of the store. The Campbells said they been preparing to take over ownership of the store for a couple years and had been involved in important decisions in its recent past.

The Campbells attended business school before owning their own business, learning through hands-on experience and relationships. The business was not just handed over, however, as Justin Cambell was tasked with presenting a proposal and a plan for the store’s future, like any other potential purchaser.

He said Piggly Wiggly will not be changing the way it does business. “To be honest, we’re going to run the store the way we run the store. We’re going to take the

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Checker’s Foods J.R. Lewis is a pillar of the community in Lawrence, Kansas. He is a supportive member and is clearly loved by his shoppers.

Checker’s was voted Best Grocery Store in Lawrence in 2024, placed second in meat counter/butcher shop and first in fresh produce.

Lewis strives to give his customers a great place to shop, where they can find top-notch produce and the best meat in town, even cutting it to each customer’s specific requests.

Not only does he succeed with customers when it comes to the items he provides, but he is always working to find the best

Coborn’s Inc. In 2023, FMI reported that grocery shoppers became accustomed to going to as many as five different grocery stores to find the products and prices they needed. Not only is this bad for a grocer’s customer loyalty, it also puts a strain on local communities.

That’s why Diana Barr and the digital and loyalty marketing team at Minnesota-based Coborn’s established a personalized strategy for discounts, coupons and recommendations that helped shoppers within its community find what they were looking for at the best price.

Barr and her team turned to Birdzi’s VISPER 2.0 to support their initiative. VISPER 2.0 leverages KIC Scores, Birdzi’s unique shopper quality index that puts shoppers in tiers based on past behaviors and the customer lifetime value they bring to Coborn’s.

groceries out and be a part of the community. We’re not going to change the things we do here.”

Between part-time and full- time positions, Brodhead Piggly Wiggly has about 40 employees. Justin Campbell said Piggly Wiggly has always had an open-door policy with the employees and he intends on keeping it that way.

technology and deals and provide his customers with the best prices and promotions.

Lewis offers a hugely successful rewards program that his customers love utilizing for weekly deals. He has a new app launching in 2024 to make the customer experience better online.

He works daily to make sure his marketing and technology is the best it can be and is constantly innovating in every way imaginable.

Lastly, Lewis is a caring individual. He treats his employees like family and makes sure they are equipped with everything needed to successfully do their jobs.

  From there, VISPER 2.0 applies these insights to determine the right deal for every shopper, including the categories, types of promotions, discounts, design and delivery most likely to resonate.

Coborn’s used VISPER 2.0 to create thousands of customized offers for the store’s shoppers and distribute them via its app and website. The grocer witnessed a 10 percent improvement in retaining or growing shopper loyalty segments and nearly 43 percent of shoppers migrated upward through loyalty tiers. Coborn’s has now implemented Birdzi’s VISPER 2.0 in all its store locations.

These personalized offers have increased loyalty and profitability for Coborn’s while supporting the health and well-being of the communities in which Coborn’s operates. In fact, according to Attest, nearly 60 percent of

Americans struggled to afford their groceries in 2023.

Personalized promotions can make a big difference. By monitoring which products these families use, Coborn’s offers discounts designed to support their needs and preferences, helping them build their basket size at an ideal price.

By placing the needs of Coborn’s communities first, Barr is ensuring shoppers can find what they need in-store every time. This initiative has built local support and ongoing loyalty during a period of high inflation and increasing competition.

  Cosentino’s Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Cosentino’s Food Stores has been in business since 1948 and is a staple in Kansas City. With more than 30 stores across the metro area, it’s hard to find a community that has not been positively impacted by the presence of Cosentino’s.

The heart of the company has always been to serve others and give back to the community that embraced a young, local, family business from its inception.

When it comes to serving communities, the company’s stores focus on supporting groups whose primary mission is feeding the hungry. It regularly gives to

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local food banks and donation groups. In the past year, Cosentino’s donated more than $1 million worth of food to Harvesters Food Network, along with other local food pantries.

With the help of Harvesters, Cosentino’s was able to provide 200 families a Thanksgiving meal. Building relationships with customers, community and organizations is woven tightly into the fabric of the company.

Within Cosentino’s, employees are taught the importance of personal service and commitment to the community.

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Dave’s Marketplace Dave’s Supermarket, an 18-store grocery retailer in greater Cleveland, deserves recognition as a Shelby Report “Exceptional Independent.” As a fifth-generation grocer deeply rooted in the region for a century, Dave’s is a cherished staple in the vibrant community it serves.

Beyond providing for a diverse population, Dave’s has invested significantly in retail technology, introducing self-checkout options that enhance the customer experience.

The commitment to community welfare is evident

Dick’s Fresh Market Stores

through the company’s active participation in initiatives like Harvest for Hunger and Produce Perks, showcasing an innovative approach to addressing local needs.

Dave’s Marketplace stands as a beacon of excellence, blending a rich heritage, technological innovation and a commitment to community welfare.

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Doug Rinehart has done a great job of expanding the number of Dick’s Fresh Market Stores over past years, focusing on small/medium town markets in Wisconsin. Dick’s Fresh Market stores are often the anchor of their communities.

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Dierbergs Based in Chesterfield, Missouri, Dierbergs has shared the St. Louis market primarily with Schnucks, although Dierbergs has much fewer locations, with 26 stores.

Privately-owned under its fourth generation of leadership, Dierbergs is an upscale supermarket chain. It was the first store in the United States to establish an in-store cooking school, offer video rentals, full-service FTD florist outlet and in-store banking.

Dierbergs is well known for its quality of meat, seafood,

produce and deli. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company changed its salad bar (banned due to safety to customers) to an alcohol bar (display) and made its claim to “creative” fame on the Jimmy Fallon Show. Most recently, one of the family heirs, Roger Dierberg, died at age 88.

As an innovator in the industry, Dierbergs is an exceptional independent that ranks high in customer satisfaction.

  Fareway Stores Inc. Fareway has experienced immense growth in recent years, in part due to President Garrett Piklapp’s visionary outlook on the future of grocery that ranges from new stores, markets and additional business ventures to e-commerce, campus improvements, employee benefits and community outreach.

Piklapp recently received the IGIA’s Retail Leader of the Year, applauded for his “charged up, vision focused” mindset going into this second year as Fareway’s president.

A native of Boone, Iowa, home of Fareway’s headquarters,

Fox Bros. Piggy Wiggly Fox Bros. began as a single store in Hartland, Wisconsin, owned by Pat and Bob Fox, and has since evolved into 10 grocery stores throughout southeastern Wisconsin.

Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly is an independently owned and operated full-service grocery chain, affiliated with Piggly Wiggly Midwest. It is the only 100-percent employee-owned grocery store in southeastern Wisconsin.

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Piklapp didn’t start with the company right away. He has a diverse work history, which makes it more impressive the milestones he’s been able to achieve in his eight years with Fareway.

Of all the things on which Piklapp has focused, his commitment to community outreach has had a far-reaching impact.

Despite his busy schedule, he makes ample time to talk through current initiatives, future projects and make sure Fareway is serving its communities large and small, far and wide.

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In 2016, Fox Bros.’ original owners, Pat and Lori Fox, wanted to give back to the team members that had made the grocer successful – so they decided to sell the company back to the them – making Fox Bros. 100-percent employee owned.

Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly has been a strong community supporter since its inception in 1988. Since that time, it has donated more than $1 million in cash and merchandise to various community

groups and organizations.

Fox Bros. provides local groups the opportunity to sell brats, hamburgers and hot dogs in the Brat House at each of its stores. Groups can also hold a car wash in conjunction with the Brat House sales.

Each time out, a group can raise $500$1,000. Fox Bros. is also a member of local chambers of commerce and can often be found participating in community events, parades and festivals.

Fox Bros. has given back hundreds of thousands of dollars to local charities through its Charity of the Month program.

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Hansen’s IGA Hansen’s is a family-owned supermarket chain, stocking meat, produce, bakery and deli, plus wine and beer. The company is committed to family, community and health and wellness in the neighborhoods it serves.

In the 50 years since Leo and Rosemary Hansen took over a small grocery store in Bangor, Wisconsin, a lot has changed in the grocery retail landscape. The town of 1,500 residents used to have three grocery stores. As seen across the country, consolidation and corporate mega-stores have increasingly put independents out of business. Luckily for the Hansens, they managed to find a niche and thrive.

In the late 1960s, the Hansens sold their house and invested their savings in the IGA in their hometown.

Over the years, the couple grew the business to five stores and expanded their family to include five children – two sons and three daughters.

The Hansens retired about five years ago. The second generation of ownership – their sons Nick and Greg Hansen, along with Greg’s wife Kari – have taken over running Hansen’s IGA, which now covers 11 stores in communities surrounding LaCrosse and Eau Claire.

Greg Hansen started working for the family business in 1993. Kari Hansen joined in 1997, and Nick Hansen in 2008. Among their many day-to-day tasks, the three have their own specialized roles: Nick Hansen, a CPA, handles all the accounting and finances, while his brother oversees the operational aspects. Kari Hansen is in charge of marketing, advertising, and seasonal purchasing.

Nick Hansen attributes the family’s success and growth to finding their own unique niche, particularly with high-quality fresh meats and the smokehouse they started 20 years ago to make and cure specialty meats like hot dogs, bratwurst and other sausages, snack sticks

and jerky and other meats.

In addition to quality products, Hansen’s has been recognized for quality service, winning the Excellence in Operations Award for 2018 from the Wisconsin Grocers’ Association. According to the WGA, the honor was given for the company’s efforts to provide for team members across all locations, including staff training, utilizing the IGA Coca-Cola Institute to provide online training, web-based certification and classroom training programs.

Bonus programs reward store managers for meeting labor and supply goals and incentives are given to cashiers for exceptional customer service.

delight for the senses.

Moreover, Jerry’s Foods is a beacon of innovation in the independent retail landscape. By embracing new technologies and trends, Jerry’s Foods has stayed ahead of the curve, offering online ordering, delivery services and personalized shopping experiences to meet the evolving needs of its customers. Whether it’s through innovative marketing campaigns or cutting-edge store designs, Jerry’s Foods strives to push the boundaries of what’s possible in independent retail.

However, what truly sets Jerry’s Foods apart is its deep-rooted commitment to community engagement.

Beyond serving as a place to shop, Jerry’s Foods is a hub for community events, fundraisers and initiatives that bring people together and make a positive impact.

Whether it’s sponsoring local sports teams, hosting food drives or supporting local charities, Jerry’s Foods

goes above and beyond to give back to the community that has supported it for generations.

Furthermore, Jerry’s Foods fosters a culture of inclusivity and diversity, welcoming people from all walks of life with open arms. Its diverse workforce reflects the rich tapestry of the community it serves and its commitment to fair labor practices and ethical sourcing sets a standard for the industry.

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Jerry’s Foods As a cornerstone of the community, Minnesotabased Jerry’s Foods embodies the essence of independent retail excellence through its commitment to quality, innovation and community engagement.

Founded on principles of service and integrity, Jerry’s Foods has cultivated a reputation for excellence that extends far beyond the aisles of its stores. From its humble beginnings as a neighborhood grocery store, Jerry’s Foods has remained steadfast in its dedication to providing exceptional products and personalized customer experiences.

One of the most striking aspects of Jerry’s Foods is its commitment to quality. From locally sourced produce to artisanal products, Jerry’s Foods curates a selection of goods that reflects the diverse tastes and preferences of its customers. Each item is chosen for its superior quality, ensuring that every trip to Jerry’s Foods is a

Mackenthun’s Fine Foods Jessa Theis led Mackenthun’s move into e-commerce to offer the Minnesota retailer’s shoppers time-saving fulfillment and a fully integrated loyalty experience.

In the process, she took several steps to make the concept of omnichannel shopping fully available to customers, with the store and e-commerce site integrated for marketing and merchandising. Mackenthun’s has launched promotions that continue providing shoppers with the same shopping experience whether in-store or online.

Under Theis’ guidance, Mackenthun’s also incorporated store pickup and delivery options, as well

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as payment options, into the new system to further entice customers demanding the convenience of those services. And the retailer trained its team to engage with shoppers in the store and through the digital platform so every order meets and exceeds expectations.

Within all of these efforts, Theis helped run social, digital and in-store promotions to increase awareness with new shopping options available. With the rollout of the digital platform, Mackenthun’s did an outstanding job attracting new customers and engaging with existing ones through social media and other marketing tactics.

Theis is a great example of a retailer who sees the

  Maurer’s Market IGA

The Independent Grocers Alliance selected Jeff Maurer, owner of Maurer’s Market IGA in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, and his daughter, Kristie Maurer, its VP and store director, a 2024 IGA USA Retailer of the Year.

The grocery store opened in 1942 as Zinke’s Village Market under owner Fred Zinke. For three generations, the Zinke family operated the business until Maurer took ownership in 2016. Today, he owns and operates the store with his daughter. Maurer began his grocery career 50 years ago as a bag boy at his local independent retailer, Byerly’s in Minnesota.

Maurer has been a loyal supporter of the IGA brand for

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value of a comprehensive solution for their eCommerce needs and the conviction to take the steps to meet and then exceed those needs.

more than five years. As part of the IGA National Retailer Advisory Board, he attends and speaks at meetings and webinars to help strengthen brand awareness and help fellow retailers navigate the grocery industry. His willingness to share insights has proven valuable to independent retailers and suppliers alike.

Recently, Maurer served as a keynote speaker for an IGA webinar to provide examples and knowledge of tactics used that can be helpful during difficult economic times. Maurer also created the Maurer’s Market IGA Round-up Program to benefit a charity of the month.

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Main Street Market Piggly Wiggly Main Street Market Piggly Wiggly is owned by husband-and-wife team Bryce and Tanya Haessly and her sister, Tegan Counihan. They are the immediate family members of the former owners, Duane and Debbie Westlie of Okee, who are now retired.

The second-generation owners care deeply about their Wisconsin communities of Belleville, Lodi and Waunakee, supporting them as much and often as they can. As small business owners, they appreciate every dollar spent in their stores.

Family is never far from the minds of the new owners. “Our kids are doing the same activities now that we did,” Tanya Haessly said. “They are learning about the grocery business. A grocery store is a great place to learn about people.”

The three said that the grocery and customer service business has been bred into them after years of working the shelves and cash registers at their parents’ stores.

The three said they are constantly reviewing ways to improve the customer experience at the store while also reviewing options to improve the physical building itself.

“We are looking at small projects right now – energy savings, efficiency improvements, etc.,” Bryce Haessly said. “We continue to review all possible options, including a facelift somewhere in the future.”

Community and family go hand in hand for the owners.

The store carries fresh produce, meat and other merchandise from about 30 local and area vendors – most of them family farms.

  McKim’s IGA Brian Williams is store manager of McKim’s IGA in Mt. Vernon, Indiana. In 2023, he lost his wife to cancer. During his wife’s cancer treatment, she received many blood transfusions.

Williams has made it his mission to save some lives and honor his late wife by organizing large scale blood drives in his community.

In just the last few months, he has been responsible for several day-long events in which all available spaces were filled.

The blood drive held on Feb. 14 marked what would have been their 10th wedding anniversary.

In January, in spite of being a single parent

with two children under age 8, Williams ran for and was elected to the local school board.

His community support has been a lifelong commitment. He has served as campaign chair for the United Way of Posey County and has been on the Posey County Economic Development Commission.

As store manager, Williams has led McKim’s IGA in supporting a wide variety of charitable causes, such as raising funds for a sheriff’s deputy injured in the line of duty, as well as local high school sports teams.

McKim’s IGA also partners with a local florist for flowers in their store.

  Metcalfe’s Market Metcalfe’s is a fourth-generation, family-owned and -operated neighborhood market with two Madison locations, another in Wauwatosa and Metcalfe’s On The Go at the Dane County Regional Airport.

The markets are known for an abundance of local and premium quality foods. Throughout the stores, shoppers can find “food miles” signs, indicating how many miles a product has traveled to reach the shelf.

Metcalfe’s Market is home to fresh baked breads and pastries from 20 local bakeries, more than 500 varieties of artisan cheeses, Boar’s Head deli meats and the largest variety of local and organic produce in the area. Metcalfe’s has been 100-percent green powered since 2008.

  Midwest Specialty Foods This small independent store is mobile. It focuses on small, regional products. A mobile artisanal market, it brings customer awareness to great products that may not be in the larger stores or may not be noticed next to the large corporate brands.

It sets up all over the Kansas City metro area and builds relationships with customers for every brand it carries. The staff loves to make sales but love even more to make connections with people. This is how it should be done – take care of the people and the sales will come.

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Miller & Sons Supermarket Miller & Sons Supermarket was started in 1902 by J.B Donkle. At that time, it was a general store and post office serving Verona, Wisconsin.

In the spring of 1911, Adrian Richardson and his son-in-law, F.A. Stewart, bought out J.B. Donkle. Richardson later sold his interest to his son, Ray Richardson. At that time, the business was called Richardson and Stewart. In 1912, the store was enlarged to give the post office (1898-1915) and dry goods more room.

In 1916, William Miller purchased Ray Richardson’s interest in the business. William Miller had worked at the Bank of Verona before going into the store business. The store then became known as Stewart & Miller until 1950.

The store sold a wide range of merchandise, including dry goods, gifts, dishes,

Miner’s Inc. Super One Foods As a fourth-generation, family-owned company, Super One Foods has a strong commitment to the neighborhoods it serves throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Last year was monumental for Super One Foods. A $15 million-plus investment in the International Falls, Minnesota, community was celebrated with the grand opening of a brand-new 57,472-square-foot Super One Foods location. The store’s new location, expanded selection and luxury décor package drew thousands of customers during the first month in business.

Three other Super One store locations – Iron River and Negaunee, Michigan, and Park Falls, Wisconsin – celebrated grand reopening events after extensive remodels.

Super One’s store investments are a testament to its dedication to providing an unparalleled shopping experience. The company is immensely grateful for the warm

all-season footwear, work clothes, groceries, flour, chicken feed, drugs, meat, Christmas trees, gasoline, oil, two grades of kerosene, Red Wing dishes, jugs, crocks, Harley Davidson motorcycles (for a number of years) tires, chains and bicycle parts. Poultry, eggs and embroidery work were sometimes exchanged for merchandise.

In those days, coming to town was a big outing for the farm families. Wednesday and Saturday nights were busy until midnight. The store had benches out front and a large floor-register furnace. These became gathering places.

In 1950, Keith Miller, the son of William Miller, bought the business, and a new store was built behind the old one and the business became known as Miller & Son. Gradually, the business changed from a general store to a supermarket.

In 1958, the business became Miller & Sons. In 1976, the building once again expanded. In 1992, Carl and Barb Miller expanded the building to fill the entire 200 block of South Main Street. A liquor store was added in November 2004.

In 2009, Millers bought Kalscheur’s in nearby Mt. Horeb, and opened a brand-new facility. Currently, the fifth generation of the Miller family are involved in the store. This includes Carl Miller’s nephew, Bill Miller, who works alongside his wife, Amy, at the Mt. Horeb location and Andrea, Carl Miller’s daughter, at the Verona location.

Carl Miller has received the Wisconsin Grocers Association Community Service Award and the 2021 Grocer of the Year Award.

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reception from the communities.

In addition to store investments, Super One is proud to be good stewards in the communities it serves. Its community involvement includes supporting many local nonprofits, youth athletics, local events, various sponsorships, in-kind donations and taking an active role at many local food banks. In 2023, Super One locations and its parent company, Miner’s Inc., donated more than $250,000 in support.

Another area that has been a cornerstone of Super One’s community involvement is in-store register campaigns. For over a decade, Super One locations have offered customers the chance to donate at the register.

Donations have been collected for many nonprofits, including the American Heart Association, Salvation Army, Muscular Dystrophy Association and American Cancer Society.

In 2023, the company made a significant change to

the register campaigns and moved the option to donate to the pin-pads at all 42 Super One Foods and Super One Liquor store locations. This small change significantly impacted the amount of donations collected. It also allowed the company to support more nonprofits, including local animal shelters, food shelves, hospice care facilities and medical foundations.

Super One customers demonstrated incredible generosity during register pin-pad campaigns. In 2023, $619,482 was raised during the campaigns.

  Neighborhood Fresh

Nemenz IGA

Todd Taylor and his team at Neighborhood Fresh in Gas City, Indiana, are always looking for exciting new ways to best serve their shoppers. Their dedication to their community is unmatched. They are always eager to employ new strategies to get their shoppers the best savings.

The Independent Grocers Alliance named Judy and Don Gabriele, owners of Nemenz IGA in Struthers, Ohio, as one of nine 2024 IGA USA Retailers of the Year.

The Nemenz family has served their community since the 1930s, when Judy Gabriele’s grandfather, Gustav Nemenz (a first-generation German immigrant), opened a small store in the front room of the family home. Her father, Henry Nemenz, is considered a pioneer in the northeast Ohio grocery industry and a member of the Ohio Grocer’s Association Hall of Fame.

The Gabrieles run first-class fresh departments, including a bakery that employs a staff of 30, including eight cake decorators. They specialize in cakes, breads and pastries that are made from scratch at the store.

The bakery is a sensory experience.

Nemenz IGA is known for many other exclusive, store-made products, such as fresh sausage, which is used by local Italian

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restaurants in signature dishes. It offers “the best fried fish in town” in the hot foods case on Fridays. The store also has a full-scale floral department, providing flowers for weddings, funerals and other special events in the community.

The owners are ardent supporters of their local community institutions. These include churches, schools, fire departments and other organizations.

Their reach extends beyond the city of Struthers, as they also support organizations in surrounding areas such as Boardman, Campbell, Lowellville, Poland and Youngstown.

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Nilssen’s Foods In 1903, the legacy of Nilssen’s Foods began when C.J.E. “Carl” Nilssen began a general store in Clear Lake, Wisconsin. The general store then became Nilssen’s Cash Store, a grocery and hardware store, when he and his brother, Tom, constructed a building on Main Street to better serve their community.

The Nilssen legacy continued down to the next generation when Carl Nilssen’s sons, Neil and Larry Sr., took over the family business. In the 1960s, the business grew to include Nilssen’s Blue Ribbon meats as Larry Nilssen Sr. started to compete on the state, national and international level, winning many awards for his homemade sausages, processed meats and hams.

In 1983, on Christmas Eve, a tragedy struck as Nilssen’s Cash Store caught fire. A new building and business, known as Nilssen’s Inc., was constructed that still stands near Highway 63. The new building allowed for more space to process, smoke and package Nilssen’s Blue Ribbon meats.

Plum Market Plum Market, a 13-store grocer in the Midwest and South, is a deserving candidate for The Shelby Report’s “Exceptional Independent.” With a unique blend of supermarkets and small-format stores in universities and airports, the company’s sleek and modern aesthetic attracts savvy shoppers.

Plum Market’s focus on organic and healthy food caters to a dedicated customer base. In addition, its comprehensive catering offerings provide a seamless

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The story doesn’t end there. In fact, the legacy continues. Another great-grandson of C.J.E. Nilssen dreamed of owning his own grocery store. In 2006, Jason Nilssen worked at Nilssen’s Market while attending school in Clear Lake. After 14 years of working for various grocery store chains, his dreams were to be an owner himself.

He and his wife, Teresa, purchased Nelson’s SuperValu in Baldwin, Wisconsin, and changed the name to Nilssen’s Foods.

Wanting to grow the family business, the couple purchased stores in Ellsworth and Glenwood City, Wisconsin, before expanding into Minnesota with the purchase of Hub Food Center in Zumbrota. Jason Nilssen is also co-owner of the Cumberland Nilssen’s Foods with Joe Diedrich, who has served as store manager for several years there.

In 2019, Jason and Teresa Nilssen went into partnership with the Wayne Foods stores in Danbury, Luck and Webster, Wisconsin. In 2021, the Food Pride grocery store

in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, joined the Nilssen Family in yet another partnership. Since 2021, four of Jason and Teresa Nilssen’s seven children, as well as one daughterin-law, have worked in the family business.

Nilssen’s strives to provide each community it serves with quality, cleanliness and great customer service, continuing the family legacy.

Jason Nilssen has been recognized with the Wisconsin Grocers Association Community Service Award, Excellence in Operations Award and Grocer of the Year in 2023.

  extension of their commitment to quality, ensuring that Plum Market is not only a preferred grocery destination but also a go-to choice for catering needs.

The company employs a diverse workforce across the country and invests significantly in cutting-edge technology, experimenting with innovative initiatives in registers, self-checkouts, loyalty programs and cloud infrastructure. Plum Market stands out as a beacon of excellence in the independent grocery landscape.

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Piggly Wiggly Cedarburg and Piggly Wiggly Mequon Paul and Karen Godin had been working in the grocery store business for nearly 20 years when they purchased their own store in 1994. The Mequon Piggly Wiggly at 6111 W. Mequon Road in Mequon, Wisconsin, was a store they could finally call their own. Paul Godin leaned heavily on the owners of the Cedarburg Piggly Wiggly, Layton and Barbara Olsen. Their son, Ryan, was just 18 at the time and a recent graduate of Cedarburg High School.

In 2012, Layton and Barbara Olsen retired, selling the grocer to Ryan Olsen and his wife, Megan. He stayed true to what his parents taught him, especially giving back to the community through countless donations to local charities.

When it was time for the Godins to retire, they knew just who they wanted to take over their store – the Olsens. “I think they were just the right fit for what Karen and I were hoping would happen with this store,” Godin said. “They have

a wonderful wealth of experience with Piggly Wiggly and a tremendous community.”

The Olsens have continued to be generous contributors to the community. Recent beneficiaries have included Mel’s Charities ($10,747), Cedarburg Community Scholarship Fund ($6,317) and Homestead High School Student Scholarship Fund ($2,554).

Every year, Olsen’s Piggly Wiggly participates in the Ozaukee County Fair, purchasing the Grand Champion Steer at the 4-H auction, along with four sheep. This helps the 4-H program. The company also is a sponsor of Family Fun before the July Fourth parade and fireworks display. Other Olsen’s-sponsored events include Country in the Burg, Mel’s Fun Run Walk, 25th Annual Mel’s Pig Roast, Cedarburg Performing Arts, That Taco Guy Dine to Donate, Family Sharing Food Drive and Food Pantry.

Ryan and Megan Olsen’s stores are a pleasure to shop and have outstanding customer service. They are always looking to be the best grocery store in the area, providing the best service and quality at the best prices.

  Prenger Foods Kevin Prenger is a second-generation independent grocer in mid-Missouri. His father, Richard C. Prenger, opened the family’s first grocery location in 1960 in Centralia, Missouri, where Kevin Prenger could be found just a few years later bagging potatoes by hand at age 4.

Kevin Prenger was one of five brothers who grew up in the grocery business.

Into adulthood, he decided to step away from the business for other opportunities but bought back into the business in 2002 by purchasing 50 percent of the Centralia location, with the other 50 percent owned by his brother, Rick. Since 2002, Kevin Prenger has grown the grocery business by building a grocery store in Macon, Missouri, and purchasing three grocery stores in Hallsville, Paris and Sturgeon, Missouri.

He has also expanded the footprint of the business by adding two convenience stores, Prenger’s Extreme Mart in Macon and Centralia and a hardware store,

Extreme Hardware, connected to the Centralia grocery.

Kevin Prenger was determined to make his father proud by carrying on his legacy. And Richard Prenger was just that when he passed in 2022.

Kevin Prenger’s stores are rural, and he takes pride in being able to serve small communities. There’s no lack of competition for groceries whether it be online shopping or meal mail services, but his stores continue to shine with cleanliness, fresh products, local ownership,and great customer service.

He is proud to donate to local clubs and organizations and is always the first to send food or grocery gift cards to a family he knows who is experiencing hardship or loss. His stores have also been extremely successful in running a round-up promotion at the register every December to

raise money for a local charity in each town where he has a store (each of them less than 5,500 in population). In 2023, customers of his stores raised more than $12,600 for those charities.

Being far from the city and edge-breaking technology doesn’t leave him behind. He is constantly working to improve the appearance, shop-ability and efficiency of his stores, which is why he was the first rural Missouri grocery owner to install electronic shelf labels.

While the concept has been out for a while, a rural store is not typically where you see this technology. He has made an impression by being the first and receives many questions from other local retailers asking about the success of the ESLs.

  Schnucks Founded in St. Louis in 1939, Schnucks Markets Inc. is a third- and fourth-generation, family-owned grocery retailer, operating 114 stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

Schnucks annually donates more than $14 million in food to pantries that help those in need and was named as a 2023 U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal.

It also was recently named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024 by Newsweek.

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Sendik’s Food Market A commitment to quality and service has been the hallmark of Sendik’s for 97 years, and the future looks bright.

Opening in 1926, Sendik’s has been a prominent grocery store to all those in the Milwaukee area. The Sendik’s brand, highlighted by the recognizable red bag, has developed a loyal following in all 18 stores.

Throughout the highs and lows of the business, the Balistreri family has been the cornerstone and the driver of the independent, community-focused grocery chain.

Sendik’s was named The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Top Employer in 2012 and has kept the award every year since. It opened its first smaller-size store under the Fresh2Go banner in late 2015. Also that year, Sendik’s became the first grocery store in Wisconsin to convert food waste into energy.

The family’s dedication to service with a high degree of detail continued when Ted Balistreri was asked to

serve on the National Grocers Association’s Board of Directors 15 years ago and served as its chairman.

The Wisconsin Grocer Magazine noted Ted’s business philosophy: “I believe that one of the most important factors to running a family business is alignment of the family on the key issues of growth, commitment and management philosophy. Businesses, family or otherwise, that do not have alignment on these key areas will have a difficult time being successful.

“The ideal company culture is based on shared values that promote trust and teamwork. The culture has to rally around a shared belief that we are all in this together working toward the same goal. This requires a great deal of humility by the company leaders and a great deal of commitment from all team members.

“One of the big lessons we learned from [our dad] is that change is a constant. You have to continue to reinvent yourself, what you’re doing and how you are going

to market. I use the example that he would be done with one remodel of the store and then start the next one almost right after he finished the most recent one.

“I think the lesson there was to keep investing in the business constantly. So even when you think you can’t afford it, you have to keep pressing ahead and keep making those changes. That was a huge lesson we learned from him.”

  Strack & Van Til Strack & Van Til, represented by Michael Tyson, was nominated for Shelby Publishing’s Exceptional Independents Award program for 2024 in recognition of its outstanding contributions to the community and commitment to philanthropy and using technology to serve customers.

Strack & Van Til has a rich history of supporting various community initiatives, showcasing a strong dedication to making a positive impact while simultaneously implementing technologies to serve customers.

One noteworthy initiative is the Strack & Van Til Checkout Challenge Round Up, a successful year-round fundraising campaign that supports charities and organizations throughout northwest Indiana. Fundraising efforts supports several organizations including Paladin,

United Way, Humane, the American Heart Association, Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity, among others. The 2022 campaign raised $574,110.

The company’s involvement in supporting Paladin’s Day for adults with disabilities in Lake County further demonstrates its commitment to addressing community needs, including behavioral management, group and residential housing and employment services.

In addition, Strack & Van Til partnered with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana to provide Thanksgiving dinners for 1,500 households in need.

Earlier this year, Strack & Van Til introduced Ideal’s digital platform that enhances customer experience with personalized content including recipes, shopping lists, digital coupon integration and custom offers based on a shoppers purchase history. This process was completed in conjunction with Birdzi’s loyalty program that leverages POS data to enhance the shopping experience.

The commitment of President and CEO Jeff Strack, along with the generosity of Strack & Van Til customers and employees, has been instrumental in the success of these initiatives.

  Teal’s Market With a rich legacy spanning more than 75 years in the industry, the Teal family’s commitment to exceptional service is evident in the friendly and efficient experience shoppers can expect from any Teal’s Market location in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The Teal family has immersed themselves in the communities they serve, providing a great in-store experience, offering exciting giveaways and supporting nonprofits and community organizations. These priorities have driven success, leading Teal’s Market to win SpartanNash’s Vision Award for its impressive 7 percent year-over-year sales growth.

The story of Teal’s Market began when George and Pearl Teal first opened in Cass Lake, Minnesota, under the name Red Owl Grocery Store. From the beginning, the Teal family’s business was built on a philosophy of customer-focused innovation, always looking for new ways to efficiently serve guests and support the community. Over time, the family expanded the business, now owning 12 stores run by fifth-generation owner Andrea Teal.

She is a trailblazing leader and a champion of women in grocery, with many female leaders successfully managing her stores. She is a respected member of the board of directors for the Minnesota Grocers Association and hosts legislative meetings at her stores.

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What truly sets Teal’s Market apart is deep customer appreciation. The Teal family finds unique ways to express their gratitude, with giveaways of sought-after items and cart bingo promotions, where guests can win store gift cards. Teal’s also has a widely-used app, driving high customer engagement and offering a seamless experience. It excels in customer retention by providing weekly value adds and free items, a strategy that captivates and rewards users.

The Teal family believes philanthropy and community engagement are vital aspects of running a successful independent store. All Teal’s

Markets have a rebate program, where shoppers can earn 1 percent on qualifying purchases to be donated to a nonprofit. In addition, stores participate in “Labels for Learning,” a program supporting local schools and community organizations.

Beyond these ongoing initiatives, Teal’s consistently supports community organizations through ongoing projects, including associate volunteer work at assisted living facilities and food pantry donation collections.

These efforts make Teal’s Market the preferred choice for community members looking to make a positive impact while shopping.

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Trig’s Trig’s is considered more of a collection than a chain.

Each store is designed to uniquely serve its community in a personal and committed way, taking on the personality of its region. But most importantly, Trig’s goal is to make sure customers get the best service – no matter what.

The collection started in 1971 when Trygve “Trig” and Tula Solberg started the company with a single small store in Land O’Lakes, Wisconsin. Today, T.A. Solberg Co. operates Trig’s grocery stores in the northern Wisconsin communities of Eagle River, Minocqua, Rhinelander and Tomahawk. Each store is a complete one-stop experience, with an expansive deli that includes Sushi With Gusto and Fresh & Fast, chef-inspired, prepped and ready-to-cook meals. Each also has a full-service meat counter, Cellar 70 Wine and Spirits and a Healthmart pharmacy.

We In 2019, the National Grocers Association presented Trig Solberg with the Thomas K. Zoucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. It goes annually to recognize an independent grocer that demonstrates persistence, vision and creative entrepreneurship.

Trig’s associates have received numerous awards from the Wisconsin Grocers Association, including Community Service Awards, Excellence in Operations Awards and Grocer of the Year. Trig Solberg and Bob Jaskolski have served on the WGA’s board of directors and both have been chairman.

As part of Trig’s 50th Anniversary, a special legacy video was produced by Trig’s associates and presented to Solberg at the annual TAS Awards event. The video highlights the accomplishments of Trig and Tula Solberg over the years and features several associates who share their observations and experience of working with

 

Walt Churchill’s Market Walter Churchill Jr., president & CEO of Walt Churchill’s Market, is an excellent candidate for the Exceptional Independent Award. He was born in 1929 into the grocery business and a life of service to country and community. His father, Gen. Walt Churchill Sr., took over the family grocery business started by his father after retiring from an illustrious military career.

Walt Churchill Jr. joined the Marines in 1947 and began his own path of military service. After his initial enlistment, he served in the USMC Reserves for 30 years, all while continuing to shape the history of local retail grocery alongside his father.

Over the years, he has headed or participated in many industry organizations, serving as president of Toledo Food Distributors and as president of Ohio Grocers Association.

A sport enthusiast, he founded several area clubs, including the Toledo Ski Club and The Toledo Roadrunners Club. While he no longer participates in events, he has continued his commitment to area runners, personally funding the donation of a sports

track to Perrysburg High School and sponsoring one of the area’s premier running events. The Churchill’s Half Marathon will be celebrating its 56th race this year.

Proceeds go to local nonprofits offering food assistance, meals and mobile pantry services.

Churchill served as past president of Rotary International’s Toledo Chapter and was recently recognized for his 55 years of service to the organization, as well as his personal financial contributions to Rotary International and to the Toledo Rotary Club Foundation.

He is also a member of Shriners International, the American Legion and, until recently, served as a board member for the Flower Hospital Foundation. Through his philanthropic generosity, he continues to support The Toledo Museum of Art, The Toledo Symphony, The Toledo Jazz Society and the Toledo Metroparks.

To ensure his family legacy, he chose in 2021 to turn over the ownership of the company to its employees through the establishment of an ESOP, making Walt Churchill’s Market a 100-percent employee-owned business.

Watertown Piggly Wiggly

He is admired by all who know him for his strength of character, his even temperament, his ability to see a positive opportunity for change in every situation and his inability to ever speak badly of fellow travelers along life’s path.

 

Brian and Rachel Wohlfeil bought the Watertown Piggly Wiggly in Watertown, Wisconsin, from Jeff and Cindy Tate in 2021.

Brian Wohlfeil started working in the store for Jeff Tate when he was in high school.

And after working in the grocery business elsewhere for a few years, came back to work there as assistant manager in 2007. He was promoted to store manager in 2011 and a few years later became the general manager for both the Tates’ stores.

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the family.

Trig’s is just one part of the larger T.A. Solberg Co., a diverse and healthy organization of more than 1,000 associates that also operates Trig’s Village Market in Manitowish Waters, several fuel and convenience stores throughout northern and central Wisconsin, Trig’s Trucking Facility, Trig’s Recycling Center, Tasmania Northwoods Resort, Postal Express Mailing & Shipping Services in Eagle River, Minocqua, and Rhinelander, and Twice is Nice Consignment Store in Rhinelander.

The Watertown Piggly Wiggly offers the highest quality products and services to customers at competitive prices and strives to give the best possible customer service.

The bakery department has the best cake decorator in town and offers photo cakes and deco-pack cakes to make every occasion perfect. And it features freshly baked bread and doughnuts every morning.

The meat department features a gourmet fresh meat and seafood counter, has new dinner ideas daily, as well as homemade brats.

The deli department has homemade dips and pizzas, as well as a Friday fish fry.

The produce department pampers customers with perfection and offers fruit and veggie trays for all occasions. And not to be outdone, the floral department has a professional designer on hand to create perfect flower arrangements for every occasion.

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Webster’s Marketplace Webster’s Marketplace’s mission – “To wow our customers and associates with enthusiasm and willingness to serve” – best describes the company.

Rob and Kathy Webster started the company in July 1978 when they bought a supermarket in Spencer, Wisconsin. On March 16, 1987, they purchased the Shop-Rite supermarket in Ripon. On June 21, 1989, they opened a Pick ‘n Save, which was expanded and modernized in 2005.

The Websters’ daughter, Candie, started in the family business during her school years, helping bag groceries

and cleaning the bathrooms. She also worked many summers in the bakery during college.

In June 2010, the family chose to come back to Ripon and continue to operate Ripon Pick ‘n Save as a locally family-owned business. In 2015, the Websters added a 15th grocery aisle. And during summer 2016, they transitioned the store to Webster’s Marketplace.

The family and business are blessed to have been a part of the Ripon community and surrounding area for more than 35 years.

  White’s White’s continues to keep its foot on the gas. Holding the line on price increases, constant improvement in perishables and using marketing programs to keep customers coming back for more, White’s keeps growing successfully.

The Kansas-based company added a new location in 2023 (its eighth), growing the sales of that store by 15 percent with the conversion to the White’s banner and implementing its perishable and marketing strategies.

White’s has also embraced all avenues of e-commerce, with sales now counted in the millions, and a growth rate of 100 percent. Its fast-growing department is e-commerce. In 2024, White’s is adding a new 3,800-square-foot shipping and storage center to improve efficiencies.

Also on the books for the near future, White’s is

planning to add roof-based solar systems at two locations using the USDA Reap Grants available to independent retailers to lower energy costs.

The team at White’s gets better every year at serving rural communities with items, quality and prices that were previously only available in the big cities.

  Woods Supermarket Woods Supermarkets has served its communities with genuine and warm hospitality for 75 years. From modest beginnings in Long Lane, Missouri, the company has expanded to 10 supermarkets and four convenience stores across central Missouri.

The company’s success is founded on a true focus to help teammates achieve their dreams. As a Certified Great Place to Work, it lives this and earns their trust every day. This, in turn, enables them to deliver Golden Rule Hospitality to guests, which sets the company apart from other supermarkets.

Whether custom-cut fresh produce by a produce chef, hand-battered fried chicken in the deli, chef-created prepared meals and cooking components, cake artist-created bakery specialties or the comfort of one-stop shopping, the team is focused on delivering greater than expectations across the shopping trip.

As part of one of the largest wholesale-buying cooperatives in the United States, it uses that buying power to bring low prices every day, combined with the authentic care of a local supermarket. In all the company does, it strives to be “Your Everyday Partner.”

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